ineffable memories / / bucky barnes

[chapter three]

TIME STAMP: PRESENT

Before Valentina replied, Kai turned around, looking directly at a tree. "Who's there?" When there was nothing but wind, Kai lifted her hand slightly, a feeling of electricity running through her body.

"There's no point for that." Valentina sighed, approaching Kai. "You can come out."

"John Walker? The military guy who tried to take over Captain America's legacy and stop Sam Wilson?" Kai asked, chuckling a bit. "You really meant it when you said misfit toys."

"Look, lady... Sam Wilson-" John interfered, joining the light.

"Is Captain America." Kai raised an eyebrow, fighting to urge to knock him out just for the word lady.

"Are you two done?" Valentina rolled her eyes. "We have business to do." Turning to Kai, she tilted her head. "What do you say, honey?"

Kai considered all of her options, but nothing was worth what she might cause if she joined Valentina and the others. A few lifetimes before, the idea of encountering him would make her do anything, but things were very different now.

"No."

"You need to think this through, witch." Valentina's tone got higher and ruder. "There's so much you don't know that you're able to do."

"My answer still stands." As John Walker was getting closer to Kai, she lifted her chin until their eyes met. "Take one more step. I dare you."

"I'll send them all after you until you collaborate."

"I look forward to it." Kai smiled, as she started to walk away.

Despite the threats, Kai hated using her powers against others. She had witnessed first-hand what it was like to feel powerless, so she tried to remain connected to her human side instead of the other one.

Bucky's eyes ran over the picture that Valentina had given him of the woman they were supposed to kidnap, but it was almost like the picture didn't do anything to his mind – it didn't feel like new information nor a new task.

It reminded him of something, but he couldn't say what.

"I thought we weren't supposed to deal with civilians." Bucky noted, looking up at Yelena. "And now we have to bring one in?"

"I don't think she is a civilian." Yelena said, her Russian accent still present.

"The name's Kai." John Walker interfered, making every head turn to him. "Valentina had me chase her, and she could even feel I was there. It seems as if it's not the first time she's been almost recruited."

"Kai." Bucky said thoughtful.

"Don't waste time dreaming, Winter Soldier." The red guardian scoffed. "She's your mission."

"I wonder what's so special about Kai." Ava wondered, looking over at Bucky, who still had his eyes on the photo.

"I suppose we'll figure it out." He said, narrowing his eyes.

TIME STAMP: PAST, 1943

"How did you say it last time? "I was afraid you'd take even longer to get here"? You shouldn't keep an officer waiting for so long, Miss Kai." Bucky teased Kai as soon as she joined his table.

"It's been 2 minutes, Officer Barnes." Kai almost rolled her eyes playfully but smiled. "You wrote for me to arrive after 6:30 pm. It's 6:32."

It had been a week since they'd met, but Bucky found a way to get Kai's address, and he wrote her a letter asking for them to meet again at the bar. He wasn't sure if she'd ever read it, but she was right there, so he realized it turned out okay.

"Are you here to get into more trouble?" Bucky chuckled, running his hand through his dog tags.

"I'm here because you seem to like trouble." Kai raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't be around asking people where other people live, Officer Barnes."

"Then how would I get to have you here making me company?" He narrowed his eyes smiling, which made Kai hide a smile. "How's your writing?"

"How come are you so interested in my writing?"

"I have the feeling you'll write great pieces someday." Bucky said genuinely.

"Maybe I'll write about you and your friend in a few years from now." Kai half-teased because the reality was that she would write about them in the future.

"Oh, no. Steve and I aren't that interesting. I think our story will be very normal."

"Oh, you wouldn't know." Kai sighed, knowing the future.